Trait dimensions of anticipatory and consummatory reward relate differently to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in a community adult sample
Date
2024-04-26
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
Abstract
Background
Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) are a major problem worldwide and continue to be a serious public health concern. Research investigating risk factors for suicide has shown that reward processes, such as the inability to feel pleasure, may confer risk for SITBs. However, less work has examined how different dimensions of trait reward relate to SITBs. Accordingly, the present study investigated the unique and interactive effects of trait anticipatory and consummatory reward for explaining SITBs.
Methods
260 community adults ages 18–55 (M/SD = 32.79/10.54, females = 49.6 %, males = 50.4 %) completed an interview, neuropsychological tests, and questionnaires. We used hierarchical multivariate multiple regression analysis to assess cross-sectional associations between trait anticipatory and consummatory reward and different types of SITBs [self-injurious thoughts, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide attempts] from the Risky, Impulsive, and Self-destructive Behavior Questionnaire.
Results
The unique variance associated with anticipatory and consummatory reward were differentially related to self-injurious thoughts but unrelated to self-injurious behaviors (NSSI/suicide attempts). The interaction of anticipatory and consummatory reward was associated with self-injurious behavior, such that the inability to experience both anticipatory and consummatory reward was associated with higher frequency of NSSI.
Limitations
Limitations of the study include its cross-sectional nature and reliance on self-reported measures.
Conclusions
Low anticipatory reward and high consummatory reward may confer risk for self-injurious thoughts. Low levels of both trait anticipatory and consummatory reward may confer risk for NSSI. Findings suggest reward sensitivity may be an understudied risk factor for a range of SITBs.
Description
This article was originally published in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100788. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Keywords
suicide ideation, suicide attempts, nonsuicidal self-injury, Anhedonia
Citation
Huerta, Wendy, Nadia Bounoua, and Naomi Sadeh. “Trait Dimensions of Anticipatory and Consummatory Reward Relate Differently to Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in a Community Adult Sample.” Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 17 (July 2024): 100788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100788.